The 1983-84 Houston Rockets season was a challenging chapter in the franchise’s history. Under head coach Bill Fitch, the team aimed to improve upon their previous season’s performance. However, the Rockets ended the regular season with a disappointing 29-53 record, placing them sixth in the Midwest Division and missing the playoffs.
This season was marked by the continued development of Ralph Sampson, the first overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft. Sampson made an immediate impact, averaging 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, which earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Despite Sampson’s individual success, the team struggled to find consistency and cohesion on the court.
The Rockets faced numerous challenges, including injuries and a lack of depth, which were significant factors in their underwhelming performance. The team struggled defensively, allowing opponents to score an average of 109.6 points per game. Offensively, the Rockets managed a modest 108.0 points per game, with limited support beyond Sampson and veteran forward Rodney McCray.
Despite the setbacks, the 1983-84 season set the stage for future growth. The poor record positioned the Rockets to secure another top draft pick, which they used to draft Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. This move would eventually lead to a successful era for the franchise, highlighting the importance of the 1983-84 season as a transitional period for the Houston Rockets.
- Regular Season Record: 29-53
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1983-84 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ralph Sampson | 82 | 21.0 | 11.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Lewis Lloyd | 82 | 17.8 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 23.1 | |||||||
| Robert Reid | 64 | 14.0 | 5.3 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Allen Leavell | 82 | 11.5 | 1.4 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 15.5 | |||||||
| Rodney McCray | 79 | 10.8 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 25.1 | |||||||
| Caldwell Jones | 81 | 9.9 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 33.2 | |||||||
| James Bailey | 73 | 8.8 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Phil Ford | 81 | 7.1 | 1.7 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 13.3 | |||||||
| Terry Teagle | 68 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 25.9 | |||||||
| Elvin Hayes | 81 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Wally Walker | 58 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 33.4 | |||||||
| Craig Ehlo | 7 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Major Jones | 57 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets 1983-84 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1983-84 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 106-100 | |
| Nov 01, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 116-108 | |
| Nov 02, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-94 | |
| Nov 04, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 113-108 | |
| Nov 05, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 123-106 | |
| Nov 08, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-104 | |
| Nov 10, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 118-109 | |
| Nov 12, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 100-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 104-86 | |
| Nov 18, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 134-127 | |
| Nov 19, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 125-105 | |
| Nov 22, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-101 | |
| Nov 26, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-109 | |
| Nov 29, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 116-110 | |
| Nov 30, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-102 | |
| Dec 02, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-102 | |
| Dec 03, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-101 | |
| Dec 06, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 113-109 | |
| Dec 07, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-101 | |
| Dec 09, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 115-112 | |
| Dec 10, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 128-121 | |
| Dec 13, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 129-110 | |
| Dec 15, 1983 | @ Utah Jazz | L 138-111 | |
| Dec 17, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 109-94 | |
| Dec 21, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 128-97 | |
| Dec 22, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-112 | |
| Dec 23, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-84 | |
| Dec 27, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 110-95 | |
| Dec 29, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 107-94 | |
| Dec 30, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-110 | |
| Jan 03, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 119-117 | |
| Jan 04, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-111 | |
| Jan 06, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 129-118 | |
| Jan 10, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 136-132 | |
| Jan 12, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-117 | |
| Jan 13, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 133-103 | |
| Jan 14, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 109-104 | |
| Jan 17, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-115 | |
| Jan 20, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 138-104 | |
| Jan 21, 1984 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 115-105 | |
| Jan 24, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-98 | |
| Jan 26, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 131-102 | |
| Jan 31, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 122-107 | |
| Feb 02, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 123-107 | |
| Feb 04, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 103-95 | |
| Feb 07, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 95-92 | |
| Feb 08, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-107 | |
| Feb 10, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-101 | |
| Feb 12, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-103 | |
| Feb 14, 1984 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 126-119 | |
| Feb 16, 1984 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 111-100 | |
| Feb 18, 1984 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 126-102 | |
| Feb 21, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-102 | |
| Feb 22, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 112-106 | |
| Feb 25, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 118-112 | |
| Feb 28, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 01, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 108-101 | |
| Mar 03, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 108-106 | |
| Mar 06, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 130-128 | |
| Mar 07, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-110 | |
| Mar 10, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 123-118 | |
| Mar 11, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 13, 1984 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 117-109 | |
| Mar 16, 1984 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 128-118 | |
| Mar 17, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 115-102 | |
| Mar 21, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 134-125 | |
| Mar 23, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 116-104 | |
| Mar 24, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 103-102 | |
| Mar 27, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 140-137 | |
| Mar 29, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-109 | |
| Mar 31, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-102 | |
| Apr 02, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 111-100 | |
| Apr 03, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 99-92 | |
| Apr 05, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 129-114 | |
| Apr 08, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-107 | |
| Apr 10, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 121-111 | |
| Apr 11, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 130-110 | |
| Apr 13, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 129-128 | |
| Apr 14, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 108-96 |